Suspended scaffold structure



Apffifl 1H, 19%? MGMURRAY 3,313,375

SUSPENDED S CAFFOLD STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 31, 1965 INVENTOR ARNOLD MC MURRAY United States Patent 3,313,375 SUSPENDED CAFFGLD STRUCTURE Arnold McMurr-ay, 285 Hazelwood Ave, San Francisco, Calif. 94127 Filed Aug. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 483,938 6 Claims. (Cl. 182-150) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in suspended scaffold structures.

Objects of the invention are to provide more stable conditions on present day suspended scaffold structure which utilizes bumper means supported transversely of a work plank and arranged to be secured in a selected position for holding the work plank a desired distance from a working surface such as the side of a building; to provide a structural arrangement whereby a pair of bumper clamps are individually adjustable transversely of the work plank in order that the platform may rest against irregular work surfaces; and furthermore to provide a spanboard arranged to be mounted on the working ends of a pair of bumper clamps to provide a continuous building engaging edge between the bumper clamps.

Another object is to provide a suspended scaffold structure employing bumper clamps of the type described capable of being used in combination with scaffold supporting means such as suspended stirrup means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a suspended scaffold structure having a novel arrangement wherein means are provided for releasably anchoring a work plank in a secured safe working condition on suspending means.

Additional objects will become apparent from the following specification and claims, considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein the numerals of reference indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a suspended scatfold structure utilizing principles of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

Referring in particular to the drawings, suspended scaffold structure for supporting workmen on the side surfaces of a building or the like generally comprise a work plank and end supporting means therefor. Such end supporting means may comprise stirrups connected to lifting means such as block and tackle in turn suitably suspended from a top portion of the building.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the numeral 14) designates the work plank or platform upon which the workmen stand. This plank is generally of elongated structure and sutficiently rigid to support the necessary workmen and material thereon. As a part of the present invention, novel bumper means are provided to hold the platform outwardly from the building surface. Such bumper means comprise a pair of bars 12 preferably rectangular in cross section and releasably secured in selected positions relative to the plank by clamp mechanisms. These clamp mechanisms comprise a pair of eyes or loops 14 each having an integral, downwardly extending standard 16 secured at its lower end to a cross frame member 18 which may be in the form of a channel arm. F or the purpose of securing the lower end of standard 16 to the frame members 18, the lower ends of said standards have horizontal extensions 20 welded to the bottom wall of the frame members 18.

Slidably mounted on the standards 16 is a second cross frame member 22 which may also comprise a channel iron structure but inverted relative to the cross frame member 18. Since the member 22 is slidably supported on the standards 16 it is adapted for relative vertical movement relative to the member 18.

Vertical positioning and a clamping function of each member 22 are accomplished by a hand screw 24 extending upwardly through a suitable aperture in the member 18 and threadedly engageable with a nut 26 secured, such as by welding, to the inner surface of the channel iron 13. The screw 24 extends upwardly and is in abutting engagement with the upper member 22, as shown in FIG- URE 2, the screw having an upper enlargement 28, such as a disc, to provide an enlarged bearing surface with the said member.

Assuming for a moment that the plank is supsended by connecting means disassociated from the bumper means, such as by a rope and stirrup arrangement, and assuming also that the present bumper means are to be assembled, the clamp members without the bars 12 as yet installed are moved onto one end of the plank with the plank being disposed over the cross members 22. The hand screw 24 is suitably backed off so that the bumper bars 12 may be inserted cross-wise through the eyes 14 above the plank, whereby it is apparent that the plank is then disposed between the bottom of the bumper bars 12 and the top of cross members 22.

Upon selected positioning of the bumper beams 12 relative to the plank 10,- whereby they project the desired holding distance beyond an edge of said plank, the hand screws 24 are tightened to urge the cross members 22 upwardly and move the plank tightly up against the bars 12. This operation of the hand screws 24 serves both to clamp the plank and the vbars 12 frictionally together as well as to frictionally secure the bars 12 in the eyes 14. The front ends of the bars 12 are arranged to engage the building to hold the work plank away fro-m the building, the bars 12 being of a length sufficient to span the width of the plank for engagement With both eyes 14 as well as to project beyond an edge of the work plank the selected distance of spacing of the plank from the building.

FIGURE 1 shows a spanboard 30 connected between the forward ends of the two bumper bars 12. This spanboard is connected to said bars vby bolts 32 or the like which are removable so that it can be taken oh if desired. That is, in some cases it may be desirable to merely use the end edges of the bars 12 for abutment against the building, in which case the spanboard 3% is removed, and in other cases it may be desired to have an elongated building engaging surface, whereupon the spanboard is installed in place. While the two bars 12 will generally be adjusted in the eyes 14 to project an equal distance beyond the edge of the plank, it is to be understood that they may be unequally extended such as when an angular or otherwise contoured surface of a building is confronted. Such unequal adjustment of the bars 12 may be made either with or without use of the spanboard 30.

FIGURE 1 illustrates the use of a stirrup 34 designed for use with the present bumper means. This stirrup has the usual upper connecting eye 36 for connection to a hook 38 from a suspending lifting mechanism 38 such as a block and tackle. The stirrup 34 further has a pair of downwardly projecting legs 40 spaced apart sufficient- -ly to extend on opposite sides of the plank 10 and in addition has eyes 42 extending parallel With the plank and arranged to receive the bars 12 therein. A portion 44 of the stirrup extends downwardly from the eyes and under the plank. Thus, not only is supporting stirrup means associated with the bumper means 12, but also said supporting stirrup is anchored in place relative to the plank and cannot in any way become disengaged from platform structure.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, the bumper clamps may be installed on ladders or other member wherein it is desired to space the member from a building or the like.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A suspended scaffold structure comprising a work plank arranged to be suspended in a working position; a bumper bar extending laterally across said plank and projecting beyond one side edge thereof; and a clamp releasably securing said bumper bar to said work plank; said clamp including eye means arranged to receive said bar, an upright standard integrated with said eye means, and a laterally extending cross member slidably mounted on said standards arranged to clamp said work plank and bumper bar into integral relation with said eye means.

2. The suspended scafiold structure of claim 1 including two of said bumper bars in spaced relation on said work plank and including a clamp for each of said bumper bars.

3. The suspended scaffold structure of claim 1 including two of said bumper bars in spaced relation on said work plank and including a clamp for each of said bumper bars, and also including a spanboard connected to said bumper bars at the projecting ends thereof.

4. The suspended scaffold structure of claim 1 including two of said bumper bars in spaced relation on said work plank and including a clamp for each of said bumper bars, said bumper bars being individually adjustable laterally of said work plank whereby to project unequal distances beyond the one side edge of the latter.

5. A suspended scaffold structure comprising a work plank arranged to be suspended in a working position; a bumper bar extending laterally across said plank and projecting beyond one side edge thereof; and a clamp releasably securing said bumper bar to said work plank; said clamp including eye means arranged to receive said bar, an upright standard integrated with said eye means, a first laterally extending cross member slidably mounted on said standards under said work plank, a second laterally extending cross member integrated with said standards below said first cross member, and adjustable means mounted on said second cross mmeber and engageable with said first cross member for clamping said work plank and bumper bar into integral relation with said eye means.

6. A suspended scafifold structure comprising a work plank arranged to be suspended in a working position; a bumper bar extending laterally across said plank and projecting beyond one side edge thereof; and a clamp releasably securing said bumper bar to said work plank; said clamp including eye means arranged to receive said bar, an upright standard integrated with said eye means, a first laterally extending cross member slidably mounted on said standards under said work plank, a second laterally extending cross member integrated with said standards below said first cross member, and hand screw means threadedly mounted in said second cross member and engageable with said first cross member for clamping said work plank and bumper bar into integral relation with said eye means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,141,749 6/1915 Alley 182-150 1,577,617 3/1926 Ferris 182-222 2,639,951 5/1953 Allenbaugh 248-317 3,021,919 2/1962 Peters 182-178 3,135,351 6/1964 Economos 182-150 3,143,328 8/1964 Damiano 182-82 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SUSPENDED SCAFFOLD STRUCTURE COMPRISING A WORK PLANK ARRANGED TO BE SUSPENDED IN A WORKING POSITION; A BUMPER BAR EXTENDING LATERALLY ACROSS SAID PLANK AND PROJECTING BEYOND ONE SIDE EDGE THEREOF; AND A CLAMP RELEASABLY SECURING SAID BUMPER BAR TO SAID WORK PLANK; SAID CLAMP INCLUDING EYE MEANS ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SAID BAR, AN UPRIGHT STANDARD INTEGRATED WITH SAID EYE MEANS, AND A LATERALLY EXTENDING CROSS MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID STANDARDS ARRANGED TO CLAMP SAID WORK PLANK AND BUMPER BAR INTO INTEGRAL RELATION WITH SAID EYE MEANS. 